Boiler-tube spreader.



J. J.. MAHER.

BOILER TUBE PREADER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.16, 190B.

Patented May 3, 1910.

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W/TNfSSES J. J. MAHER.

BOILER TUBE SPREADER.

I APPLIUATION IILBD NOV. 16,1908. i 95 15,9 Patented may 3, 1910.

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protect the latter from action of the heat,

JOHN T. MAKER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE BABCOCK do WILQOX COMPANY, OF BAYONNE. NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BOILER-TUBE SPREADER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1910-.

Application filed November 16, 1908. Serial No. 162,894.

To all whom it may concern! Be it known that I, JOHN J. Manna, a

I citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of: Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful form f-of Boiler-Tube Spreader, of which the followingli's a specification.

tubes in order that there maybe an effective -.d istribution of the heat throughout the-entrre extent of the same; the tubes are passed through the bafiie plates and in order to i fire-bricks of suitable material'are inserted between the tubes t0.cover the plates. Each brick'is designed to fill a substantially dia -mond-shaped space between four adjacent tubes and when in position lies in close contact with adjacent fire-bricks, filling other r similar spaces. In order that the baflie plates may be effectually protected it is necessary that the fire-bricks be securely positioned and completely fill the space between tubes.

' When it becomes necessary to replace these fire-bricks in making repairs, the insertion or removal of the bricks without breaking or other in ury is exceedingly difficult while the tubes are in a normal or unspread posi tion. To overcome the diiliculty above set forth it is necessary to spread apart the water tubes at a point somewhat in advance of the position occupied or to be occupied by the fire-brick, and to place the brick in position by entering it between the tubes at the point where the same are spread apart, and then to move the brick along to a position against the baflle plate, or to remove it by a reverse operation.

It has heretofore been proposed to spread apart the water tubes of a boiler by means of a tool bearing-shoulders adapted to be moved in opposite directions along the length of the tool, after insertion between the tubes, by means of various screw mechanisms. Such tools are at a disadvantage by reason I I of. their cost, number of parts involved, time break-age or derangement of adjustable parts required for operation, and the liability of under thesevere strain imposed thereon. It

is-the purpose of my invention to provide.

part-s, capable of efiicient and rapid operation and of low cost.

My invention consists in the design, construction, and combination of parts set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Like characters of reference denote like parts in all the figures of the drawings herewith.

Figure 1 represents a view in elevation of my tool inserted edgewise in a bank of tubes, the latter being shown in section and a portion of the'tool being broken away; 2 represents a fire-brick of the usual form of construction used in bafiles of the type referred to; Fig. 3 represents a detail, enlarged view in front elevation of the tool; Fig. 4 represents a detail edge view of the spreader member, the tool bar at the point of connection between it and the member being shown in section; Fig. 5 represents a detail view of the spreader member; Fig. 6 represents a detail view of the socket for the spreader member in the tool bar.

The construction of my novel form of spreading tool is as follows: A metal bar or rod '1, is provided adjacent. one end with a spreader member 2, formed with oppositely extending curved arms 3. Adjacentthe opposite end of the bar or rod 1 are-provided apertures for the insertion of a handle 5, or a plurality of handles, for operating the tool in various positions. The spreader member is secured to the bar 1 in the following lnan'ner: An enlarged socket 7. is formed in the bar and the threaded head 6 of the spreader member is of a size suitable for insertion in such socket, the spreader member being adjustable to and from the bar by means of the bolt 8 on the enlarged head portion and being secured in position by the bolt 9 on the opposite side of the bar. It may also be rigidly welded to or formed inte ral with the bar.

, Vi henused for the purpose of spreading apart the water tubes of a boiler, the tool is insertededgewise between two adjacent rows of Water tubes and when in the desired position is turned in such a manner that the oppositely extending arms 3 project on opposite sldes of a tube which it is desired to force out, or spread; the tool is then turned, the bar resting against the tubes in the adjacent row and the tube which is in contactwith the arms 3 being the water tubes at,

forcld out. For example, as shown in Fig. 1, it is desired to insert a fire-brick in the substantially diamond-shaped space between y z, z, and the tool has been inserted in such a manner that when turned, the. arms 3 will extend on opposite sides of the tube y and said tube will be forced out, the bar 1 resting against tubes 2, z, of the adjacent row, the atter tubes being also forced out or spread apart to a certain limited extent; the fire-brick may 7 then be inserted in an edgewise position and readily turned into its desired (position between the tubes :12, y, z, a, an thereupon moved along the tubes to'its position until located against the bafiie plate.

In ractice, it has been found that the sprea ing apart or forcing out of one tube in one of two rows of tubes with or without the limited movement of other tubes'in an adjacent row is sufiicient'to render possible the ready insertion of a firebrick between a group of four tubes comprising the tube so s read. v

aving thus described my inventiomwhat I claim is: p

1 A boiler tube spreader comprisin a bar having adjacent one end' thereo a rigidl spreader member formed of oppositely-extending curved arms rigidly secured to the 2. A boiler tube spreader comprisin a bar having adjacent one end thereo a spreader member formed of 0p ositely -extending arms rigidly secured to t e bar, and means for adjusting said spreader member toward and from the bar.

3. A boiler tube spreader comprising a bar and a spreader member formed of. oppositelyextending arms, said arms being secured to said bar and projecting latera ly' therefrom n the same side of the 4. A boiler tube spreader comprising a bar having a socket formed therein, a spreader member having a threaded head engagingsaid socket, and a .bolt on said headto adjust the spreader membergtoward and'from the bar.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribin witnesses.

vJQH J. Witnesses: I

EUGENE P. TERRY,

Riemann B. CAVANAGH, 

